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Austria-Hungary's Version of the War

By Kaiser Franz Josef and Count Berchtold.

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The Imperial Rescript and Manifesto.

Ischl, July 28.

Dear Count Stuergkh:

I have resolved to instruct the Ministers of my Household and
Foreign Affairs to notify the Royal Servian Government of the
beginning of a state of war between the Monarchy and Servia. In
this fateful hour I feel the need of turning to my beloved peoples.
I command you, therefore, to publish the inclosed manifesto.

MANIFESTO.

To my peoples! It was my fervent wish to consecrate the years
which, by the grace of God, still remain to me, to the works of
peace and to protect my peoples from the heavy sacrifices and
burdens of war. Providence, in its wisdom, has otherwise decreed.
The intrigues of a malevolent opponent compel me, in the defense of
the honor of my Monarchy, for the protection of its dignity and its
position as a power, for the security of its possessions, to grasp
the sword after long years of peace.

With a quickly forgetful ingratitude, the Kingdom of Servia, which,
from the first beginnings of its independence as a State until
quite recently, had been supported and assisted by my ancestors,
has for years trodden the path of open hostility to
Austria-Hungary. When, after three decades of fruitful work for
peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, I extended my Sovereign rights to
those lands, my decree called forth in the Kingdom of Servia, whose
rights were in nowise injured, outbreaks of unrestrained passion
and the bitterest hate. My Government at that time employed the
handsome privileges of the stronger, and with extreme consideration
and leniency only requested Servia to reduce her army to a peace
footing and to promise that, for the future, she would tread the
path of peace and friendship. Guided by the same spirit of
moderation, my Government, when Servia, two years ago, was
embroiled in a struggle with the Turkish Empire, restricted its
action to the defense of the most serious and vital interests of
the Monarchy. It was to this attitude that Servia primarily owed
the attainment of the objects of that war.

The hope that the Servian Kingdom would appreciate the patience and
l